David Duchovny And Gillian Anderson Are Returning For More X-Files, But Not How We Expected

The X-Files was one of the most talked-about series of the 1990s, and Agents Mulder and Scully have since become television icons. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprised their legendary roles for Season 10 in 2016, and fans have been waiting ever since for news of a Season 11. Now, we have confirmation that the two actors will be returning to Mulder and Scully at least once more, but not how we expected. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson will lend their voices to an audio book that will be released later this year.

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson will play Mulder and Scully in the upcoming Audible drama The X-Files: Cold Cases. The plot will be based on the comic series released after the end of the original run of the series, called The X-Files: Season 10. The comic series is no longer canon with continuity due to the events of the 2016 revival series, but it should still be a fun listen for fans who have been dying for more material from the dynamic duo.

The comic series was crafted by Joe Harris as writer and Michael Walsh as artist. The X-Files creator Chris Carter weighed in on Cold Cases, according to Nerdist, so even its displacement from The X-Files continuity doesn't mean that it won't feel like old school X. The story has been adapted from the original comic by author Dirk Maggs, and it will follow Mulder and Scully as they are forced out of hiding when their pals from their former lives are pursued by a mysterious crew.

There's no saying at this point how many liberties from the original comic stories and/or characters will be taken with the audio book. Audible did release a video teasing David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson's involvement with The X-Files: Cold Cases, in addition to some other returning cast members. Take a look:

Mitch Pileggi will evidently reprise his role as Assistant Director Walter Skinner, which isn't too huge of a surprise. Skinner was still alive and well as of the Season 9 finale, and he's the person who Mulder and Scully would most logically keep in touch with. William B. Davis' return as the Cigarette Smoking Man is a bit more puzzling, as he was last seen in Season 9 being killed by a huge explosion. As for Bruce Harwood, Tom Braidwood, and Dean Haglund... well, the Lone Gunmen already appeared once to Mulder after their deaths. That could easily happen again.

We'll have and wait and find out for ourselves. The X-Files: Cold Cases will be released by Audible on July 18. Hopefully the book does well enough that it's only the first adaptation of an X-Files project. After all, we haven't heard too much lately about the prospect of a Season 11 on the small screen. While Fox and David Duchovny seemed all for working out a deal for more episodes, Gillian Anderson wasn't sure if she could make it work. I want to believe that there will be another season - not least because of that painful cliffhanger - but we can only hope at this point.